Gear: Store fishing or hunting gear on your cooler

Here’s a way to keep your fishing or hunting gear handy on the cooler in your boat.

Fly fishing gear maker SmithFly Designs has come up with the Cooler Kilt, which allows gear pouches to be attached to coolers.

By snapping directly to a cooler, the Cooler Kilt keeps gear consolidated, out of the way, and easily accessible. It was designed for people fishing on small watercraft, including stand up paddleboards, kayaks, and micro skiffs, as well as spin-and-bait casting fisherman and hunters.

Many anglers keep coolers on board of their boats to carry water, lunch, snacks, and beverages. They also carry cumbersome bags with gear that sometimes end up in a puddle in the bottom of the boat.
“There wasn’t a good solution for carrying fly boxes and tackle on the water while fishing from smaller, more nimble boats,” said Ethan Smith, owner of SmithFly. “Now you can haul your gear and your beer in one trip from the truck to the boat. The Cooler Kilt lets you put your stuff right where you can access it, without any hassle.”

Cooler Kilts are available in five cooler sizes from 25 to 65 quarts. They’re constructed of 1000D Cordura, and feature multiple rows of Mil-Spec nylon webbing with one-inch tactical bar tacks. The back of each kilt has snaps that attach to coolers.